Perception And Behaviour Of Herbal Medicine Use Against Covid –19 In East Bank Demerara, Guyana
Introduction
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) was initially reported to the World Health
Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Several countries reported the use of herbal
medicine to combat this disease.
Objectives
To evaluate the prevalence of herbal medicine used in Guyana to prevent and treat
COVID–19, the common herbal remedies used for this purpose, and for which COVID–19
symptoms these herbal medicines were used.
Method
An ethnographic cross-sectional study of 211 randomly selected participants from
Soesdyke, Supply, Grove, Herstelling, and Eccles Health Centers were given a twelve–
question questionnaire. Data was transferred to Google Forms and analyzed using generated
graphs and Microsoft Excel.
Results
The use of medicinal plants was prevalent (62.1%). 143 participants used herbal
medicine to prevent and treat COVID–19–related symptoms, while 68 denied use. Herbal
medicine use as treatment was significant among participants with a diagnosis of COVID-19
while its use as prevention was significant among those with a relative diagnosed with
COVID-19. Ginger, garlic, turmeric, lemon, and lemongrass were the top five herbs used to
treat symptoms such as cough, headache, sore throat, fever, and malaise.
Conclusion
Guyanese use medicinal plants believing they can prevent and treat symptoms of
COVID-19. The types of medicinal plants used in Guyana were similar to those identified in
some other countries.
Recommendations
Similar and more comprehensive studies on this topic are recommended.
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